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Free test tasks often sound reasonable because the client frames them as a way to assess fit. The risk is that you give away strategy, concepts, code, or design work before any agreement exists.
You want the opportunity, but the unpaid test request feels a little wrong.
A free test project is not always a red flag. It becomes risky when the task creates usable client work, has unclear ownership, requires strategy or original concepts, or replaces a paid discovery process. A safe test should be limited, non-commercial, and clearly separate from work the client can use.
Respond by offering proof without giving away usable work. You can share portfolio samples, suggest a short paid trial, or propose a tightly limited exercise that cannot be used commercially without payment. If they need real project work to assess fit, that is usually a paid discovery or pilot project.